My first coop, first chickens (don't even have them yet!lol)

[ButtonquailGirl14]

no, i didn't think about making one till it was half built, since they wouldn't get the whole idea I figured I would just post lots of pictures of the end product.

plus I just used some basic plans for the outside (modified a little), but the inside will be super cool! I'm calling it "Lai Lai Erets" (in Hebrew which is part of my heritage) translated to "La La Land"...... Because my family always says I'm in "Chicken La La Land".

 

[miguelitro]

I'm really hoping to get this thing finished in less than 2 years and as November is fast approaching (I started in Nov 2017!) I figured that I should get to work! Honestly, life has just gotten in the way but I'm not in a hurry.

Yesterday I got the roof sheathing on but then ran out of drip edge so hopefully I can pick up a stick of that today and then start putting down the rolled roofing. I hate ladders so I'm looking forward to that part being done!

Tje two parallel boards on the right will hold up the poop board. The coop floor is sloped and will get covered in linoleum and have 2 doors on each end, both above and below the 2x6 on the far end and the 2x4 on the near end (btw, the red 4x4 is not part of the coop). Hopefully this thing is easy to keep clean!

Don't be fooled by the presence of a level, there isn't much on the coop that is perfectly square, plumb nor level lol

This is the opening for 3 nesting boxes that will hang off the outside.

Anyways, it's still a work in progress but I'm just about finished (lot's of painting in my future...) and will hopefully be getting chicks in just a couple weeks.

Mike

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Yay!

 

[miguelitro]

Still plugging along on this as I have the time and money lol.
The run ended up right at 80 square feet. Between the run and free ranging that should be enough for 5 hens. I still need to add some roosts and pvc feeder, oyster and waterer.
The coop is 24 square feet with 6 feet of roosting bar over the removable poop board.
I need to finish the nesting boxes. There will be 3 about 14"x14".
All the unpainted plywood walls will be painted, obviously, and will be hinged to allow easy cleaning.
There is a lot of ventilation up top but should I add some vents in the walls as well? It gets hot here in the summer but not so much at night when they will be in the coop itself. I feel like I need a couple more vents down low to help with air circulation. Any advise appreciated!

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Still plugging along on this as I have the time and money lol.
The run ended up right at 80 square feet. Between the run and free ranging that should be enough for 5 hens. I still need to add some roosts and pvc feeder, oyster and waterer.
The coop is 24 square feet with 6 feet of roosting bar over the removable poop board.
I need to finish the nesting boxes. There will be 3 about 14"x14".
All the unpainted plywood walls will be painted, obviously, and will be hinged to allow easy cleaning.
There is a lot of ventilation up top but should I add some vents in the walls as well? It gets hot here in the summer but not so much at night when they will be in the coop itself. I feel like I need a couple more vents down low to help with air circulation. Any advise appreciated!
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nice!

 

[miguelitro]

Also, I have been cultivating the dirt inside the coop this whole time. It is full of seeds, worms and grubs, totally ready to be dug up by some chickens!

If it doesn't rain tomorrow (rain everyday in May in San Diego, WTF!) I will get to painting and will be ready for chickens!

Woo hoo! Got it done in less than 2 years lol.

Mike

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Yay!

 

[miguelitro]

We got 6, 1 year old laying hens for free today!!! The coop is not 100% done nor is the nesting box but they are happy scratching around down below! Woohoo, we are chicken parents!!!

there are 3 different varieties, two of each and i would love to know what kind they are (the previous owner did not know).
I am so happy lol,
Mike

 

[trumpeting_angel]

The experts here will tell you the breeds - these chicken people are amazing! Don’t be afraid to post more photos. Do you know how old they are?

 

[miguelitro]

The experts here will tell you the breeds - these chicken people are amazing! Don’t be afraid to post more photos. Do you know how old they are?

1 year old
Unfortunately it got dark but there will be a lot more pictures coming!